The ongoing British GP saga

And so the British Grand Prix saga grinds ever onwards with Donington Park boss Simon Gillett getting another 14 days to try and rescue his funding for next year’s British Grand Prix. However, the anti-Silverstone tone which has been such an integral element of Bernie Ecclestone’s persona in recent years softened substantially yesterday.

And so the British Grand Prix saga grinds ever onwards with Donington Park boss Simon Gillett getting another 14 days to try and rescue his funding for next year’s British Grand Prix. However, the anti-Silverstone tone which has been such an integral element of Bernie Ecclestone’s persona in recent years softened substantially yesterday.

Bernie, the F1 commercial rights holder, dismissed reports that Donington had been permitted extra time, explaining that they simply had the statutory 14 day period provided in the contract to remedy the breach. It is as simple as that.

“We haven’t decided to give Gillett another deadline at all,” Ecclestone told the Daily Telegraph. “We have informed him he is in breach of contract. The contract which we have gives him 14 days to remedy the breach. Most business contracts are like that.”

Ecclestone also denied that he or his companies were interested in taking equity in Donington after the Citigroup banking organisation reputedly raised £120m of the required cash, with the remaining £25-£30m supposedly coming from an independent investor.

“I can tell you we’re not taking any equity,” he said, confirming that Silverstone would be offered the same 17 year deal which Donington signed last year in the event of Gillett proving unable to raise the necessary funding.

The reality, of course, is that the BRDC, the owners of Silverstone, are now in a position to dictate terms to Ecclestone in the sense that if he wants a British Grand Prix to remain on the calendar then he has to do business with the track which hosted the very first world championship GP back in 1950.

Damon Hill, the BRDC president, has said for a long time that Silverstone is ready, willing and able to continue staging the British GP. But they want a deal longer than a single year. The only lingering question is if a 17 year deal makes proper sense either.

John-I was refering to race day facilities for those on general admission tickets like myself. I'd never been to a GP before (couldn't justify the cost)and as it was potentially the last at Silverstone the father in law paid for a group of us to go. Now obviously if you are on general admitance you don't expect a seat but there wasn't even anywhere 'comfortable' to stand. Just gravel and broken asphalt. So we (and many others) spend ages standing on uneven surfaces craning our necks for the slightest glimpse of a car. We gave up around 3pm because we'd had enough (as had quite a few others by the look of it). All i ask is a bit of grass to stand on and the chance of a decent view of, well something. Judging by the number of people who gave up and just watched it on the jumbo screens we weren't alone.

As for the other facilities they were OK ( a burger van is a burger van to me). I must say that the park and ride was excellent.

I don't want to give the impression that I'm anti Silverstone, I live nearby and go several times a year to the FIA GT's, Le Mans series etc but I and the people I was with were disappointed by what was on offer on GP race day.

What other sporting event can you pay £100 or so for a ticket and see next to nothing?

Which facilities are below par Lee? Not sure how many GP tracks you have been to around the world but I can assure you that the drivers and the teams rate Silverstone among the top 5. I know you can't get a fantastic view of the track as, say, at Brands but you can't anywhere else I can think of either. It's (now) easy to get in and out of, the recent bankings around the track do make viewing so much better and, compared to most stadia I've been to the catering is (slightly) above average. In comparison Donington is a super club or minor international racing circuit as long as not too many people want to attend - in which case it becomes a park'n'ride event. Hopefully next year Silverstone will have both the Moto GP and the car GP and then will be able to invest in really moving forward. And yes, I am a BRDC member and therefore biased!

This has been a farce from the beginning. The idea of holding a motor race in a field in the Midlands without any parking was risible from the off. Assume that Mr E just trying to save face now - and, of course, ensure that the hefty penalty clauses he will have insisted on are put in motion. Just up to Damon and the boys to get a decent deal and life can go on as normal with the BGP at Silverstone where it belongs.